Graceful Truth

THE HARDEST HYMN

April 07, 2023

THE HARDEST HYMN

In quiet faith, He laid life down,
And took upon Himself the crown,
That no one else could rightly bear;
A crown of thorns that none could share.
 
His face, like flint, was firmly set.
His steps, determined, as He went,
And climbed the hill of Calvary,
To pay the vicious price for me.
 
The somber sound of hammering nails,
His persecutors did not fail,
But none of them could comprehend
It was His choice to die for them.
 
And slowly, all our grotesque sin
Deliberately was laid on Him.
His form was changed from purity;
His likeness gone, no one could see.
 
The Father saw His blessed Son,
Transfigured by what sin had done;
And turned His back, the judgment given,
To separate His Son from heaven.
 
“My God,” Christ cried in agony,
“Oh, why have You forsaken Me?”
And with a broken heart, He cried,
“Tetelestai,” and then He died.
 
The sky went dark; the sun had died,
The rocks split open as they cried.
All hope was lost, all joy was gone.
The devil laughed, the demons sang.
 
But in the halls of heaven above,
A knowing smile appeared with love.
God gazed upon His lifeless Son,
“Just wait three days. I am not done.”
 
Bill Elliff
Good Friday
April 7, 2023


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